Automatic water drain for oil tanks



A J. A. JOLLY I AUTOMATIC WATER DRAIN FOR OIL TANKS Filed Jan. 11. 19233 Sheets-Sheet 1 flkk f mvx wg A A @&.-23,'1923, 73335? 1 J. A. JOLLYAUTOMATIC WATERDRAIN FOR OIL TANKS Filed Jan. 11. 1925 5 sheets-sheet.2i

ct. 23, 1923. 1,471,737 I J. A. JOLLY AUTOMATIC WATER DRAIN FOR OILTANKS Filed Jan. 11. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I tame be. 2a, 1923.

' STATES PA'Ts some Anna JOLLY, or LONG nnacu, surname.

AUTOMATIC WATER DRAIN FOR OIL TANKS.

Application filed January 11, 1923. Serial No. 611,983.

tanks, and has for its object to provide an automatically acting waterdrain for oil tanks.

As is well known water forms a constituent of the products of nearly alloil wells, and this water naturally settles to the bottom of the storagetanks containing the oil.

My present invention consists of means for automatically withdrawing thewater from a tank.

Other objects and advantages will be made manifest in the followingspecification of an embodiment. of the invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings,

- 25 wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a storage tank in whichthe invention is combined.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the water draining apparatus showing"the control 0 valve in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the? control valve in open position.

Fig. 4 is a section horizontally on the line l4ofFig.2. a

A storage tank T is here shown as provided with the usual main drainingvalve M for discharging the tank. A drain pipe D leads from the mainvalve M, and in my invention a drain pipe 2 is connected to the pipe Dand is provided with an automatlc drain valve 3 from which leads ,a pipe4 connectingto the drain pipe 13 which latter may beprovided withianintermediate valve 5. between the pipe connection 2 and the connection4. The main valve M, in my invention, isnormally open and theintermediate valve 5 is closed: so that drainis automaticallyaccomplished through the pipe 2 and the automatic drain valve 3.

closing ofthe automatic valve 3, this tter is connected by a link 6 to afloat 7 which is operative in a float chamber 8 through the bottom ofwhich the link 6 operates. The float chamber is substantially closed andhas chamber 11 and after passin To accomplish the automatic opening andan overflow pipe 9 leading from its upper portion and a valved drainpipe 10.

Above the float chamber '8 is a controlling chamber 11 communicatingwith the I float. chamber 8 through a port 12 which is closable by asuitable valve 13. The valve 1s shown as of a needle or conical plugtype and has a stem 14: to the upper end of which is connected a member15 which is of such buoyancy as to float in water, but issulfieientlyheavier than oil to prevent its ascending in oil. In other words, thespecific gravity of the member 15 is less than that of water and isequal to or greater than thatof oil which is to-be stored in the tank T,so that the member 15 becomes a vfloat as to the water which passes intothe control chamber 11 through a connecting pipe 16 leading to the lowerportion of the tank so as'to transfer water W therefrom to thecontrolling chamber 11. The top of the controllin chamber is connectedby an oil transfer plpe 17 leadin T at a level above in thetank T.

From the above it will be seen that in the absence of water to apredetermined level in the tank and controlling chamber 11, the valve 13will be seated by its attached member 15 which, being heavier than theoil, will sink in the oil accumulated in the chamber '11. As wateraccumulatesjin the tank T it will rise to an equal level in the apredetermined level will lift the'r'elatlvely buoyant member 15, andthis will operate to open the automatic'controlling valve 13.Tlie'opening of this valve results ,in the flow of water fromthe'controllingchamber 11 down into the float chamber 8 and the escapingwater will accumulate in this chamber, with the result that the float 7will be elevated,

Fromxthe above will be seen that I and the valve 3 will he; opened andwater have provided a very simple, reliable and automatically operativemeans for substantially continuously draining water as it may accumulatein well storage tanks.

- t is understood that this apparatus may be utilized for draining anyliquid substance where there are substances in a common vessel havingdifferent specific gravities.

Further embodiments, modifications and variations may be resorted towithin the spirit of the invention as here claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for automatically substantially continuously draining waterin tanks containing oil as the water separates from the oil, comprisinga water chamber and float operated drain valve therein, and an 011chamber having float means controlled by variation of waterlevel in thetank for con trolling the opening and closing of the drain containingoil as the water separates fromcontrolling the opening and closing ofthe valve.

2. Apparatus for automatically substantially continuously draining waterin tanks the oil, comprising a float operated drain valve and a chambertherefor, and float means controlled by variation of water level in thetank for controlling flow of water to said chamber for the opening andclosing of the drain valve, the said float means being disconnected fromthe drain valve.

3. Apparatus for automatically substantially continuously draining waterin tanks containing oil as the water separates from the oil, comprisinga water chamber and float operated drain valve therein, and an oilchamber having float means controlled by variation of water level in thetank for drain valve, the said float means being combined with andopening and closing a controlling valve in said oil chamber.

4. An apparatus for automatically drainingwater from an oil tank andcomprising chamber, a valve inthe drain pipe, a float I in said chamberconnected to said valve,- water controlled means for admitting water tothe float chamber so as to 0 en the valve, said meansincluding a controing chamber connected to the tank so as to receive water and oiltherefrom, and a valve device in the controlling chamber operativebytheaccumulation of water to admit water to the float chamber.

6. In combination with an oil container,a controlling chamber havingwater and oil supply connections with the container whereby water mayflow into the chamber to.-a level e ual to that in the container, afloat controll the chamber, a float chamber to which the dischargedwater from the controllin' chamber passes, and a float in the float camber connected to a drain'valve for controlling draining of water fromthe container.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

' JOHN ADAIR JOLLY.

ed valve for discharging water from

